Cooper Flagg’s January Dominance Earns Third Straight Rookie Of The Month Honor

Grant AfsethFebruary 3, 2026February 3, 2026

NBA: Cooper Flagg reacts on the court during the second half at American Airlines Center against the Charlotte Hornets

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

The NBA’s January awards announcement delivered another milestone for the Dallas Mavericks’ franchise rookie. Cooper Flagg was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for the third consecutive time, extending a run that has placed him among the most decorated first-year players in team history and strengthening his position in the Rookie of the Year race.

Asked recently about the offensive strides behind his surge, Flagg pointed first to control and physicality.

“My pace. Picking my spots, where I want to be on the court, playing with force, and better driving angles,” he said. “That’s something I worked a lot on. I’m always working on my shooting, but learning where I want to get on the floor has been the biggest thing.”

He also emphasized confidence as a through-line during his breakout stretch.

“I feel confident. I’m getting to my spots, making some shots,” Flagg said. “When I play with confidence, with a downhill mentality and in attack mode, I think it’s really good for me and good for our team. The guys have confidence in me, and they’re pushing me to be aggressive, so I’m just listening and trying to do what’s best.”

Across 12 January games — all starts for the Dallas Mavericks — Flagg averaged 20.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.8% from the field and 76.9% at the line. He topped 20 points six times, cleared 30 twice, and produced a 40-point outing, while also posting four double-doubles and four 20-5-5 stat lines.

That production, paired with a pair of historic finishes to the month, vaulted Flagg into the league spotlight and toward the front of the Rookie of the Year conversation.

Record-Setting Performances for Cooper Flagg

The defining night of Flagg’s month came Jan. 29 against the Charlotte Hornets, when he erupted for a career-high 49 points on 20-of-29 shooting and added 10 rebounds.

The outburst set a new Mavericks rookie scoring record, surpassing the previous standard shared with franchise icon Mark Aguirre — whose jersey was retired that same evening — and established a new teenage scoring benchmark in NBA history.

The game also carried extra meaning, marking the first NBA meeting between Flagg and former Duke roommate Kon Knueppel. Knueppel finished with a career-high 34 points, including eight three-pointers, and sealed the win at the free-throw line in the closing seconds as Charlotte spoiled Flagg’s historic performance.

Reflecting on the matchup and their Rookie of the Year competition, Flagg called the moment unforgettable.

“It’s incredible, and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” he said. “We’ll be looking back on this whole year for the rest of our lives and talking about it. It’s just so special to have this opportunity.”

He added of facing Knueppel for the first time in the NBA:

“That was my roommate last year. To have a night like this with him — I know how special he is and how hard he works. Ten-plus years down the road, we’ll both be looking back on this as something special. That’s my brother for life, and I’ve got really high praise for him.”

Charlotte also received strong performances from Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball, while Dallas got 16 points off the bench from Klay Thompson.

Two nights later in Houston, Flagg capped the month with 34 points, a career-best 12 rebounds and five assists. The consecutive 30-point double-doubles made him the first teenager in league history to accomplish that feat, while his combined 83 points over Dallas’ final two games of January set another NBA age record.

Jason Kidd And Teammates Highlight Cooper Flagg’s Growth

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Flagg’s January run reflected how quickly he has adapted to NBA defenses and the grind of the schedule.

“When you look at the way Cooper is playing here as of late, especially for the month of January, he’s answered a lot of questions of how teams have been playing him, what the NBA schedule and lifestyle is all about,” Kidd said. “For a 19-year-old to be able to digest all of that and put up the numbers he did this past month is pretty special. He’s been playing extremely well since we’ve gotten him. To win 3 ROTM awards, now he has to do it in February.”

Daniel Gafford echoed that belief in Flagg’s late-game presence.

“Amazing,” Gafford said. “When you put the ball in his hands, good things happen. We trust him to take those shots at the end of the game, and the majority of the time those shots fall. … The sky’s the limit for him. Just give him the ball and let him go.”

The quotes mirrored the numbers behind Flagg’s third straight monthly honor and illustrated why Dallas has already leaned so heavily on its teenage cornerstone.

January delivered the trophy. Inside the Mavericks’ locker room, the message was just as clear: the bar keeps rising.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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